The New Strain

Chapter 1

I died. 

I was so sure I breathed my last. I didn't know how long it was. I was so sure that massive explosion swallowed me right before I could seek cover. I died. I sensed nothing.

I thought I did.  

Because my might returned to its sense the next moment, I heard gurgles sound like it was real. Even the sound of my voice… the strangers' voices. It felt surreal when I tasted the bitterness of the fluid. It felt like my body had been submerged in a light foamy liquid. I tried to open my eyes, but the lights were blinding. I moved and struggled to free myself from being drenched into the bitter fluid. 

Pain. 

I harbored pain! There was a searing pain in my nostrils, and I almost chucked up as I felt the tube seemed to have been fed down to my stomach move as my body scuffled.  

Buhay ako? 

Or was it life after death? But why did I feel pain? The pain was an indispensable part of being alive. I wrestled against the muggy and steamy liquid I was submerged in. The pain is real!

Biglang tumunog ang isang malakas na alarm. Nagulat ako at napaigtad. Muli kong iminulat ang aking mga mata. Sa una'y wala akong maaninag. Hanggang sa sumambulat saakin ang isang hindi pamilyar na tanawin mula sa malagkit na likidong kinaroroonan ko. 

I saw laboratory fume hoods, microscopes, balances, water baths, glassware sealed on the wall just on my right side. Then four more huge test-tube-like containers on my left. Naaninag ko ang katawan ng mga taong walang saplot at tila wala pang malay. 

Sumibol ang magkahalong takot at taka sa aking dibdib. Muli akong nagpumiglas. Bumulwak ang dugo mula sa ilong ko at humalo iyon sa likidong laman ng container kung saan ako nakapaloob. Sumigaw ako pero tanging mga bula lang ang lumabas mula sa bibig ko. Muli kong nalagok ang mapait na likido sa loob ng container. 

Patuloy na tumunog ang malakas na sirena. 

Kasunod no'n ay may nagsalita na parang isang boses robot mula sa isang built-in speaker na hindi ko na makita kung nasaan. "Drop 2424 is ready! Drop 2424 is ready!"

"Drop 2424 is ready. Encore assigned agents, be ready at your post. Preparing to open container 8 in 2 minutes!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko lalo na nang pumasok mula sa tila automatic na metallic door ang tatlong taong naka-uniporme. They wore gloves, long pants which fully cover the legs, and a lab coat all in ghost white. Mabilis na pumwesto ang mga ito paikot sa malaking container na kinaroroonan ko. 

"Drop 2424 is ready. Encore assigned agents, be ready at your post. Preparing to open container 8 in 1 minute."

Sa mabilis na pagpasada ng sulyap ko sa mga nakaputing nilalang sa paligid ko'y napagtanto kong ang container '8' na tinutukoy ng robotic voice ay ang kinalalagyan ko. Tahimik na nakamasid ang mga ito habang pinapanood ang pagpupumiglas ko.

"Preparing to open container 8 in 30 seconds!"

"20...19 ...18 ...17 ...16"

Nasaan ako? Bakit ako buhay? Anong nangyayari? Sunod-sunod na tanong ng utak ko. 

Tumigil ang malakas na sirena. Wala na akong natitirang lakas. It felt like fear was slowly consuming my strength. I was impaired in vigor and sensation. 

Then the metallic lid of the container clanked like a strong force had twisted it to open. The slimy and steamy fluid slowly went down, bringing me flat to the floor of the container. The tube that was fed down to my gut slowly pulled as the lid of the container continued to twist. 

As the final centimeters of the tube made their way out of my system, I felt a strong punch in my stomach pushing its content upward until I sensed my body throwing up. Tanging likido ang lumabas sa bunganga ko. Nanghina ako pagkatapos no'n. 

Nakadapa ako habang lukob ng aking mga bisig at binti ang mga maselang bahagi ng aking katawan. Hinahabol ko ang aking paghinga. Biglang bumuhos ang maligamgam na tubig mula sa itaas ng container. Kumawala ang masaganang halipawpay hanggang sa wala na akong maramdamang madulas na likido sa aking katawan. 

"Disinfection complete. Drop 2424 is sterile."

Pagkatapos banggitin ng robotic voice ang mga katagang iyon ay umikot ang makapal na salamin ng container hanggang sa tuluyan na itong bumukas. 

Hinihingal ako habang pinipilit buksan ang talukap ng aking mga mata. Mukhang hindi pa ito masyadong sanay sa masyadong maliwanag na lugar. Nanghihina man ay pinilit kong bumangon. Nagawa akong alalayan ng dalawang nakaputing nilalang: isang babaeng may maiksing buhok at isang lalaking may matikas na pangangatawan. Binalot ako ng babae ng makapal at malambot na tela upang takpan ang maselang bahagi ng aking katawan saka ako iniharap sa isang matandang babaeng may maiksing puting buhok na pinong-pino. Kagaya ng dalawang tao na nakaalalay saakin, makinis ang balat ng babae na sa tingin ko'y naglalaro sa limampu hanggang sesenta ang edad. 

"Welcome to Thir, Nova Adira," nakangiting bati ng babae. 

Kumurap-kurap ako upang mas lalong mapagmasdan ang itsura nito. The woman had a complete white ring around the colored portion of her eyes. As far as I can remember, science called it arcus senilis, which was common in older adults, but the white ring in her eyes looked brighter and more defined. 

She's human.

Lumuwang ang ngiti ng matandang babae. "This is not arcus senilis, Nova. Only the primes have this kind of eye color."

Is she read my thoughts? I wondered why she's been calling me Nova. My real name was Fidela. "P-primes?" nalilito kong tanong. 

She chuckled. Her face was trying to contain the remaining patience left in her body. I could tell. Pinilit nitong muling ngumiti saka nagsalita. "There are a lot of untold stories waiting for you, Nova, right when you're done eating true food with, of course, your appropriate clothing."

I sensed her fakeness hiding in her struggling grimace. There was evil in her eyes. There was danger in her. I was not sure where this judgment was coming from. 

I wasn't like this before the nuclear explosion happened. Now it felt like my senses were heightened to interpret even a single batting of her eyelashes. With the sudden swallowing she made to push the lump in her throat, the slight movement of her jaw, I sensed a threat. 

The woman couldn't be trusted. I wasn't even sure why I was so particular about this initial assessment. 

"Elle will dress you up, and she will serve as one of your agents. Neo will be your other agent. Everything that confuses your head right now will be explained to you detail by detail by both Elle and Neo," the prime said. 

Una akong napalingon kay Elle. Napakaamo ng mukha nito. She looked so pretty, even in a lab gown. She's got gray eyes, a perfectly layered amber, and gray hair cut into a bob that was perfect for her petite body. "Your chamber is ready, Nova Adira," magiliw nitong sabi. 

Bumaling ang tingin ko sa matangkad na lalaking mahigpit ang hawak sa kanan kong bisis. Nakatitig ang kulay abo nitong malamlam na mga mata. Nakaawang ang mapula nitong mga labi na tila may gustong sabihin. He looked gorgeous with his dark hair is cut to medium length,  lifted to form like a small pompadour. It matched his flawless oval face. 

Sa mga titig nito'y parang matagal na ako nitong kilala. It was like my presence rekindled a strong emotion deep inside him. I saw it in the dilation of his pupils. Mydriasis—the eyes' physiological response when somebody feels fear, surprise, or attraction. 

Who was this guy?

His gaze was puzzling. 

His presence was enthralling.